By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Pastels have been seeing a surge in interest among artists at the Fluvanna Art Association. Pastel artist Mike McGurk, an award-winning artist, who studied at the Art League School of Alexandria, discussed his work and techniques with members at their monthly meeting on July 16.
Reminiscent of artist Edward Hopper, McGurk’s work captures the stillness and solitude of his subjects, whether it’s a rusting truck in the field, a bicycle on a side street, or a person walking through a meadow.
“I’m not talking, so come on up and ask questions and look at my work,” he said as members gathered to bombard him with questions. Easygoing, he focused less on the cost of supplies, of which some are not inexpensive, but what is needed just to get started. His tools are simple, big chunky pastels, used and broken, various types of paper -sandpaper was used in one example – and stumps and tortillons for details. But mostly he uses his fingers for blending.
“I begin by blocking in the subject like you would with an oil painting and go from dark to light,” he said. “You mix colors on the surface, next to each other, and blend them.” He added that you can use a glazing technique, layering on top of another layer as in painting.
He also mentioned brushing alcohol onto a lightly applied pastel underpainting which helps the pigment stick to the surface, resulting in a nearly permanent image. Once dry, the pastel can be applied without mixing with the underlayer. He used this technique in his copy of a John Singer Sargent portrait. He also suggested a watercolor underpainting can also be used in the same way.
Those interested in trying pastel were less fearful and those already accomplished pastel artists like McGurk learned something new from a fellow artist.
